System, Method and Software Product in Eyewear Marketing, Fitting Out and Retailing

Abstract

A system, method and computer program product for facilitating eye glasses selection, configuration and marketing is disclosed. Aspects of the invention assist in eyeglasses frame selection and lens configurations and selection. Photos of individuals needing/seeking eye glasses can be taken or uploaded; eyeglasses and/or frames may be simulated or merged into photos and shared via network connection. Optical code reading ability provides fast access to eyewear information. Eyewear industry information is provided to assist in retail and associate operations and eyeglasses frame and lens selections.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computerized method for eyewear selection on a computer platform, comprising:
 displaying on a computer display prompts for information pertinent to an eyewear frame selection and an optical lens option selection;   receiving said information through an input device;   displaying on the computer display an eyewear frame recommendation and an optical lens option recommendation; and   receiving through an input device an indication of a frame selection and/or a optical lens option selection.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computer platform is equipped with a camera and said method further comprises:
 prompting a user to pose with or without wearing eyeglass frames;   taking a photograph of the user;   permitting the user to select to modify the photograph with selected superimposed simulated frames and/or simulated lenses; and   displaying the photograph of the user.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising a step of embedding in said photograph a store identification, a product identification or an advertisement. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmission of said photograph through a network connection to a mobile device, an email address or social networking website. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computer platform is a tablet-style computer, a touch tablet computer, a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, or a desktop computer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said eyewear frame selection information comprises two or more of: a photograph of a user trying on frames, a photograph of a simulated frame superimposed on the user, results from a user facial characteristics computer-implemented recognition tool, a prescription, user age, user gender, user personal style preference, user lifestyle and user activities. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said optical lens option information comprises two or more of an optical prescription, a user lifestyle and activities, and a photograph of the user modified with a simulation of a optical lens option. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said optical lens options recommendation are progressives, bifocals, trifocals, UV protections, tints, polarizations, lens coatings or photo chromatic. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises a step of providing an optician tool. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said tool includes one or more of a segment height and optical center measuring tool, pupillary distance measuring tool, lens thickness estimating tool, prescription transposing tool, progressive lens mark identifying tool, lensometer connection tool, and prescription and eyeglass troubleshooting tool. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said method includes a further step of providing frame and lens option selection information to a point of sales interface. 
     
     
         12 . A computer platform for facilitating eye glasses marketing, configuration and selection, comprising:
 a display screen;   an input device;   a camera;   a processor configured to execute computer program instructions to cause the processor to:
 display on said display screen prompts to the user, said prompts including at least one of: a photograph of a user trying on an eyeglass frame, a photograph of the user having simulated frames superimposed thereon, a result from a user facial characteristic computer-implemented recognition tool, a user prescription, user age, user gender, user personal style preference, user lifestyle and activities, and a photograph of the user modified to simulate the appearance of a lens option, 
 take a photograph of the user, 
 receive user input from the input device, and 
 display eyewear recommendations on the display; 
   local storage for processor executable instructions for carrying out interaction with the user and retrieval and storage of information.   
     
     
         13 . The computer platform of  claim 12 , wherein said processor is further configured to embed in a photograph a store identification, a product identification or an advertisement. 
     
     
         14 . The computer platform of  claim 13 , further comprising a network interface, wherein the processor is further configured to execute computer program instructions to cause the photograph to be transmitted through the network as email, as a mobile device message and as a social media posting. 
     
     
         15 . The computer platform of  claim 12 , wherein said input device is a touch screen. 
     
     
         16 . The computer platform of  claim 12 , wherein said computer platform is a tablet-style computer, a desktop, a laptop, a mobile phone, or a smart phone. 
     
     
         17 . The computer platform of  claim 12 , wherein said computer platform further comprises a bar code scanner. 
     
     
         18 . The computer platform of  claim 12 , wherein said computer platform further comprises a lensometer configured to provide the user prescription. 
     
     
         19 . The computer platform of  claim 12 , wherein said computer platform further comprises a network interface which allows the computer platform to communicate with an authentication server, a file storage server, an advertiser server, or a social media server. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program product stored on a tangible computer readable medium, comprising: a library of software modules which cause a computer executing them to prompt for information pertinent to an eyeglasses recommendation and an optical lens option recommendation, to store said information and to display eyewear recommendations. 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product of  claim 20 , wherein said library further comprises modules for:
 frame selection, lens and lens option selection, user authentication, user profile, prescription information, frame simulation, lens simulation, lens and lens option simulation, photo, facial characteristics recognition, segment height and optical center measuring, pupillary distance measuring, lens thickness estimating, prescription transposing, progressive lens mark identifying, lensometer connectivity, store associate trainer, prescription and eyeglass troubleshooting, point of sales and advertising.   
     
     
         22 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein said facial characteristics recognition allows for computer assisted recognition of user facial shape, structure, and/or skin tone. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product of  claim 21 , wherein said advertising module stamps user photographs with a store identification, a product information, and/or an advertisement. 
     
     
         24 . A method for providing an eyeglasses customer selection experience, comprising:
 providing a network connected computer server configured to receive and respond to requests sent across the network from a network connected user computer platform,   transmitting one or more modules of computer executable program instructions and displayable data to the network connected user computer platform in response to a request, wherein said modules include modules configured to
 a) display prompts for user input information concerning eyeglasses selection, 
 b) receive indications of user responses to said prompts, 
 b) receive and transmit photographic information, 
 c) interact with a social media server and/or 
 d) receive advertising information for display to the user from a network connected advertising server, 
   receiving said user input information; and   transmitting an eyewear recommendations for display by the network connected user computer platform.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said photographic information includes product information and advertisement. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said user input information is selected from the group consisting of a user photograph, a user photograph modified with simulated frames superimposed, results from a computer-implemented facial characteristic recognition tool, a user prescription, user age, user gender, user personal style preference, user lifestyle and activities, and a user photograph modified with a simulation of the appearance of a lens option.